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Story
April 1, 1854
Anti Slavery Bugle
New Lisbon, Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio
What is this article about?
Article critiques shallow chivalry in Virginia, citing a court decision against Mrs. Douglass in Norfolk and a 1661 colonial law punishing women by ducking for causing slander suits, with fines in tobacco payable by husbands.
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Full Text
VIRGINIA CHIVALRY.
The decision against Mrs. Douglass in Norfolk, Va., which we published last week, spoke loudly as to the chivalric sons of Virginia. Their chivalry being only skin deep, very easily accommodates itself to the circumstances surrounding it. The enactment of laws against women teaching children to read is therefore, all of a piece with their laws for women-whipping, and for women-ducking. In "Henning's Statutes at large," may be found the following:—
At a grand Assembly held at James' Citie, in 1661, were passed many acts "to the glorie of Almightie God, and the publique good of this his Majestie's colonie of Virginia;" among which in
"ACT V.
"Women causing suites, to be ducket.
"Whereas, oftentimes many babling women often slander and scandalize their neighbors, for which their poore husbands are often brought into chargeable and vexatious suites; and cast in greate damages:
"Bee it therefore enacted by the maiority aforesaid: That in actions of slander occasioned by the wife, as aforesaid, after judgment passed for the damages, the woman shall be punished by ducking: and if the slander be so enormous as to be adjudged at greater damage than five hundred pounds of tobacco, then the woman to suffer a ducking for each five hundred pounds of tobacco so adjudged against the husband, if he refuse to pay the tobacco."—
Aliened American.
The decision against Mrs. Douglass in Norfolk, Va., which we published last week, spoke loudly as to the chivalric sons of Virginia. Their chivalry being only skin deep, very easily accommodates itself to the circumstances surrounding it. The enactment of laws against women teaching children to read is therefore, all of a piece with their laws for women-whipping, and for women-ducking. In "Henning's Statutes at large," may be found the following:—
At a grand Assembly held at James' Citie, in 1661, were passed many acts "to the glorie of Almightie God, and the publique good of this his Majestie's colonie of Virginia;" among which in
"ACT V.
"Women causing suites, to be ducket.
"Whereas, oftentimes many babling women often slander and scandalize their neighbors, for which their poore husbands are often brought into chargeable and vexatious suites; and cast in greate damages:
"Bee it therefore enacted by the maiority aforesaid: That in actions of slander occasioned by the wife, as aforesaid, after judgment passed for the damages, the woman shall be punished by ducking: and if the slander be so enormous as to be adjudged at greater damage than five hundred pounds of tobacco, then the woman to suffer a ducking for each five hundred pounds of tobacco so adjudged against the husband, if he refuse to pay the tobacco."—
Aliened American.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Crime Punishment
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Virginia Chivalry
Women Ducking
Slander Law
1661 Statute
What entities or persons were involved?
Mrs. Douglass
Where did it happen?
Norfolk, Va.; James' Citie, Virginia
Story Details
Key Persons
Mrs. Douglass
Location
Norfolk, Va.; James' Citie, Virginia
Event Date
1661
Story Details
Criticism of Virginia's chivalry through a recent decision against Mrs. Douglass and a 1661 law allowing ducking of women for slanderous lawsuits, where husbands could be fined in tobacco and women punished by ducking if unpaid.